Mission
The mission of the Summit County Domestic Relations Court is to provide fair, effective, and compassionate legal resolution to specific kinds of family conflict.
What We Do:
- Dissolutions, divorces, annulments, and legal separations
- Parentage cases involving unmarried parents
- Legal custody cases involving minor children who are not wards of another court
- Parental rights, parenting time, and child support
- Civil protection orders
The Summit County Domestic Relations Court grants annulments, legal separations, dissolutions of marriage, and divorces to couples who can no longer remain together.
The Court determines parentage of children born to unmarried parents. The Court also issues Civil Protection Orders when violence has occurred between household members and immediate danger is present. Within this context, the Court may address parental rights, parenting time, legal custody, and child support.
The Court works with legal professionals, social service agencies and law enforcement to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all family members coming through the court. The Summit County Domestic Relations Court is dedicated to helping families achieve a fair and peaceful resolution to their conflict.
Family Court Services
Guardians ad Litem
A guardian ad litem is a professional assigned by the court to assess a family’s situation and fitness in cases of legal custody. Guardians ad litem may be lawyers, social workers, or other professionals who have extensive experience working with children and families. Once their assessment is complete, a guardian will make a recommendation to the court in the children’s best interest.
Informal Proceedings
This court offers a mediation type program for parents dealing with minor disagreements or problems with their existing shared parenting plan. Informal Proceedings may allow parents to reach agreement without filing a formal motion through the court. Interested parties can download an application here or contact Family Court Services at (330) 643-2355 for more information.
Education Programs for Court Involved Parents
Working Together
Working together to cooperate in parenting children is the most important investment parents can make in the future of the children. The Working Together Program helps parents who have never married understand their legal rights and responsibilities regarding their children. Due to the COVID-19 health emergency, the Working Together Program is temporarily suspended.
Remember the Children
Married parents of minor children who file for divorce or dissolution are required to attend the virtual Remember the Children program. The program is designed to educate parents about the effects of divorce on their children/